Overview
- Security footage shows the barbell slipping during a bench press, striking Ronald José Salvador Montenegro’s chest before he briefly stood and then collapsed.
- Gym staff and users transported him to the UPA Rio Doce, where he arrived in cardiopulmonary arrest and was pronounced dead.
- Experts highlight the risky “false grip” as a likely factor in the slip, noting this is not an official determination of cause.
- The gym says it provided immediate assistance, trains staff in first aid, and is registered with CREF/PE, which said a qualified professional was present.
- Relatives dispute the supervision and emergency setup at the facility and are urging stronger safety protocols, as autopsy and technical examinations remain pending.